Device for charging a container with gas under pressure

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for charging a gas under pressure, such as carbon dioxide, into containers such as barrels containing beer or other drinks. The device avoids the possibility of the control valve being blocked or jammed by the formation of frost and/or ice caused by the expansion of the gas, by providing a gas expansion chamber removed from said valve, whereby the frost of ice formed therein will not prevent the normal operation of the movable parts of the valve.

United States Patent DEVICE FOR CHARGING A CONTAINER WITH GAS UNDER PRESSURE 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 137/557, l 3 7/5 05 .22 Int. Cl ..F16k 37/00, 605d 7/00 Field of Search 1 37 /557,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,679 8/1929 Stein 137/50522 3,031,165 4/1962 Allen 137/557x 3,104,679 9/1963 Gouirand l37/557X FOREIGN PATENTS 618,239 12/1926 France 137/50522 1,106,136 5/1961 Germany 137/50522 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Att0rneyJecies and Greenside ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a device for charging a gas under pressure, such as carbon dioxide, into containers such as barrels containing beer or other drinks. The device avoids the possibility of the control valve being blocked or jammed by the formation of frost and/or ice caused by-the ex pansion of the gas, by providing a gas expansion chamber removed from said valve, whereby the frost of ice formed therein will not prevent the normal operation of the movable parts of the valve.

PATENT EDJAM 1 21971 SHEET 1 BF 2 His INVENT OR Jose Debenodctto ATTORNEY5' PATENT ED JAN 1 219m m 2 [IF 2 y r v I 3 W 0 /I f U 2 I z r z a K I z v 9 6. Z 7///// l i m v 5 m w INVENT OR His ATTORNEY DEVICE FOR CHARGING A CONTAINER WITH GAS UNDERPRESSURE This invention relates to a devicefor Charging a container with gas under pressure. e The device of this invention is particularly well adapted for controlling the charge of a gas under' pressure, such as carbon dioxide, into containers such as barrels containing beer or other drinks which are dispensed with a gas included therein.

The improved device in accordance with the invention is of the type comprising a body having a-fluid pressure inlet conduit, an outletconduit connectable to the container to be charged, and a valve responsive to high pressure, interposed between both conduits and capable of blocking the communication therebetween. i

Generally, the devices of the aforesaid type have certain v drawbacks when usedfor regulating the ingress of carbon dioxide into barrels, for example, inasmuch as upon expanding said gas causes a considerable lowering of the temperature within the zone of the expansion. This will in turn cause the formation of frost and/or ice which will within a short time prevent the operation of the movable members of the control valve locatedwithin the zone where frost and/or ice is formed.

The above-mentioned serious problem is solved advantageously by the device of the present invention, wherein the fluid inlet conduit has the control valve interposed near the inlet proper, and said conduit extends. beyond said valve into a fluid pressure injection conduit leading into an expansion chamber which is substantially removed from the valve, said chamber being connected on the one hand to at least one outlet tube connectable to the container receiving the gas under pressure, and on the other hand said chamber is connected to a return conduit leading into a cylinder and against one face of a piston the opposite face of which is backed up by suitable pressure is created which might close the flow valve.

ln experimental teststhe device of the present invention was found to work in a most satisfactory manner-notwithstanding the fact that it was applied to-a barrel of beer wherein the. known regulating valves become jammed after a short time of continuous service.

ln order that the. invention may be more clearly understood identified by the reference numerals 7, 8 and 9 extend from the expansion chamber 6 for carrying gas to the barrels or containers holding the liquid to be charged with gas. A return duct 10 extends also from the expansion chamber 6 and opens into a cylindrical bore 11 formed in the body'l.

The bore 11 houses a piston 12 the rear side of which bears against a spring 13 the tension of which is adjustable by means of a hand-controlled screw member 14 provided with a stop 15 for limiting the axial movement thereof in both directions.

The front face of the piston 12 is permanently in engage ment with one end of a stem 16 the opposite end of which conthe section 2' of the aforesaid inlet bore duct. An expansion and readily carried into practice, one to the presently the position of the movable elements when the valve is open and the gas is being charged in a normal manner;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the valve ini closedposition; and 1 i F 1G. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the connection of the device with a pressure indicator.

The same reference characters are usedto indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

With reference to the drawings, the I improved regulating valve is shown to comprise a body 1 having a bore 2 for the inflow of fluid under pressure. The bore 2 extends axially into an extension3 provided with means 4 for coupling same to a fluid pressure supply source, which may be a container commonly known as tube.

The inflow bore 2 communicates with an injection duct 5 which opens into an expansion chamber 6 formed in the body 1. A plurality of ducts, three in the embodiment as shown trols a valve interposed between the sections 2 and 2' of the fluid inlet bore or duct. The closing member 18 of said valve cooperates with a resilient gasket in the form of a ring 19 of elastomeric material'applied 'coaxially against the mouth of spring 20 urges the closure member 18 towards the closed position thereof.

Said stem 16, which is slideably mounted within the duct section 2', presents longitudinal flutes in the portion com prised between the closing member 18 and a position short of the end which engages the piston l2. When the valve is in open position, said flutes permit the passage of fluid from the inlet bore 2 into the injection duct 5 connected with said section 2' within which said stem 16 is slidably housed.

A branch 21 extends from the duct 2' and opens into a safety valve 22 which may be of a conventional type and "serves for releasing gas in case an overpressure is created in the device.

Extending also from the inlet duct 2' is a further branch 23 opening into a charge indicator 24 (see FIG. 5) fonned by a hollow cylinder 25 slidably'housing therein a piston 26 and 27 of which extends through the end wall 28 of the cylinder 25. A spring 29 is in permanent engagement with the piston 26 and tends to maintain the rod 27 within the cylinder bore.

The operation of the-device is as follows: The fluid from a supply source, not shown, enters the device through the duct 2 (see FIG. 3) passes through the valve l8 duct 2' and injection duct 5, into the expansion and distribution chamber 6. The fluid will then pass through the branch ducts 7, 8 and9 into the containers containing the drink which will receive the gas.

ln order to insure a normal operation, thepressure of the inflowing gas should be determined between a minimum value and a maximum value. The minimum value should be such that the gas circulating through the ducts, particularly the branch 23 will be sufficient to maintain the piston 26 displaced and, consequently, the spring 29 compressed and the rod 27 out of the cylinder 25.

When the pressure falls, that is when the emerging end of the rod 27 is almost entirely concealed, this will indicate that the charge in the supply source has been consumed and should should be substituted.

Conversely, when the pressure is too high, the gas circulating through the duct 10 and entering the chamber 11 will excessively high or when due to some damage the above men--.

tioned elements fail to operated, the safety valve 22 will then; act to release the gas to the atmosphere.

lt is important to note that the expansion of the gas entering the device takes place within the'chamber 6 and, therefore,

the formationof frost and/or ice will not affect the movable.

parts of the control mechanism which are actuated by gas which has already expanded and, therefore, absorbed'heat which is thecause of the formation of frost or ice that is responsible for the blocking or jamming of the control valve elements.

While a specific embodiment of theinvention has. been described and illustrated, it will be understood that many I changes and/or modificationswill occur to those skilled in the 'art, without departing from the scope of'the invention as clearly set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A device for charging a container with pressurized gaseous fluid, comprising;

a housing element;

a gas supply duct having an inlet for gaseous fluid under 5 pressure, an outlet remote from said inlet and an expansion chamber adjacent to and communicating with said outlet and remote from said inlet;

normally closed valve means in said supply duct adjacent said inlet and movable to open position in response to entry of gaseous fluid under a given pressure through said inlet;

first spring means permanently biasing said valve means to closed position with a first force;

control means in said housing element, including a cylinder and a piston movable therein between a first position and a second position in which latter it engages and maintains said valve means in said open position thereof;

second spring means engaging one side of said piston and permanently biasing the same to said second position with a second force greater than said first force; and

a control duct communicating with said chamber and with said cylinder at the other side of said piston so that the latter is displaced to said first position against said second spring means in response to a predetermined increase in said pressure.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plucharged.

3. A device as defined in claim I. further comprising at least one outlet tube communicating with said chamber and adapted to be connected with a container which is to be charged.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, said piston including a piston rod projecting from said other side and engaging said valve means.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a source of gaseous fluid under pressure communicating with said inlet; and indicating means carried by said housing element and operative for indicating the pressure of gaseous fluid in said source as a function of pressure in at least one of said ducts.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, said indicating means comprising an auxiliary cylinder having an exposed end wall, an auxiliary piston movably accommodated in said auxiliary cylinder, a piston rod carried by said piston and slidably projecting through said endwall for observation exteriorly thereof, auxiliary spring means engaging one side of said piston and urging the same to move in a sense tending to retract said piston rod inwardly of said endwall, and an auxiliary duct communicating with said one duct and with said auxiliary cylinder at the other side of said auxiliary piston for displacing the same under the influence of pressure in said one duct in a sense effecting advancement of said piston rod outwardly of said endwall. 

1. A device for charging a container with pressurized gaseous fluid, comprising; a housing element; a gas supply duct having an inlet for gaseous fluid under pressure, an outlet remote from said inlet and an expansion chamber adjacent to and communicating with said outlet and remote from said inlet; normally closed valve means in said supply duct adjacent said inlet and movable to open position in response to entry of gaseous fluid under a given pressure through said inlet; first spring means permanently biasing said valve means to closed position with a first force; control means in said housing element, including a cylinder and a piston movable therein between a first position and a second position in which latter it engages and maintains said valve means in said open position thereof; second spring means engaging one side of said piston and permanently biasing the same to said second position with a second force greater than said first force; and a control duct communicating with said chamber and with said cylinder at the other side of said piston so that the latter is displaced to said first position against said second spring means in response to a predetermined increase in said pressure.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of outlet tubes each communicating with said chamber and adapted to be connected with a container which is to be charged.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one outlet tube communicating with said chamber and adapted to be connected with a container which is to be charged.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, said piston including a piston rod projecting from said other side and engaging said valve means.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a source of gaseous fluid under pressure communicating with said inlet; and indicating means carried by said housing element and operative for indicating the pressure of gaseous fluid in said source as a function of pressure in at least one of said ducts.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5, said indicating means comprising an auxiliary cylinder having an exposed end wall, an auxiliary piston movably accommodated in said auxiliary cylinder, a piston rod carried by said piston and slidably projecting through said endwall for observation exteriorly thereof, auxiliary spring means engaging one side of said piston and urging the same to move in a sense tending to retract said piston rod inwardly of said endwall, and an auxiliary duct communicating with said one duct and with said auxiliary cylinder at the other side of said auxiliary Piston for displacing the same under the influence of pressure in said one duct in a sense effecting advancement of said piston rod outwardly of said endwall. 